Tennis action continues at the ATP Chengdu Open 2019 with some exciting matches on offer on Day 2. We preview and predict four of those clashes for you.
ATP Chengdu Open Day 2 Predictions
Dusan Lajovic vs Juan Ignacio Londero
Head to head – First Meeting
Both players are having their best ever year on the ATP Tour, each winning their maiden title on tour. Dusan Lajovic played a great tournament in Umag but has waned off since the start of the North American hard-court swing. His opponent, Juan Ignacio Londero, much like the Serb is a proven clay courter but his hard-court game is yet to find a comfortable groove. Londero did beat top-quality opponents like Matteo Berrettini in Cincinnati and Sam Querrey in New York this year but the Argentine is still waiting for his breakthrough at a non-clay court tournament.
Lajovic is certainly the more aggressive out of the two but the Argentine is a great counter puncher. Expect the counter puncher to have his day.
Prediction: Londero in 3
Pablo Carreno Busta vs Radu Albot
Head to head – Albot 1-0 Carreno Busta
Radu Albot has flown under the radar somewhat but the Moldovan has had an impressive 2019. He won his maiden title in Delray Beach and has a win-loss of 27-20 this year. Currently ranked 42, Albot knows what it takes to beat the Spaniard, Pablo Carreno Busta, having beaten him at last year’s Wimbledon.
Carreno Busta is a solid baseliner and has won two titles on hard courts, but this matchup feels more like a battle of confidence rather than past experience. Heading into this match, the Spaniard has had a better US Open and he reached the quarter-finals at the recently concluded Moselle Open. This match has all the ingredients to go the distance and Carreno Busta should progress forward.
Prediction: Carreno Busta in 3
Fernando Verdasco vs Alexei Popyrin
Head to head – First Meeting
A classic battle of experience versus young blood. A 35-year-old veteran, Fernando Verdasco is still mighty capable of producing scintillating tennis but his consistency is an issue. The Spaniard last won two consecutive matches in Wimbledon and his first-round assignment in young Aussie, Alexei Popyrin, is a tough proposition to tackle.
Popyrin had to come via qualifiers to enter the main draw but will definitely fancy his chances against Verdasco. The Aussie is quick around the court considering he’s 6’5″ and possesses a devastating serve. Popyrin played a good US Open and will be looking to keep it going against an out of form Verdasco.
Prediction: Popyrin in 2
Hyeon Chung vs Joao Sousa
Head to head – Chung 1-0 Sousa
Hyeon Chung is on the comeback trail but his best game is still some distance away. The South Korean played a tough US Open winning in five sets in his first two rounds silencing those who questioned his fitness level pre-tournament. Chung, playing on a wild card here, would be keen to get back to winning ways but it’s easier said than done.
His opponent is Joao Sousa, a man never known to give up. The Portuguese did lose to Chung last year at Miami but a lot has changed since. If Chung can shorten the rallies and close points at the net he has a great chance but Sousa has run into some sort of form reaching the semi-finals at St. Petersburg. Chung on his day has the game to beat Sousa but currently, the Portuguese seems to be the one winning this.
Prediction: Sousa in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
